San Rafael braces for biggest housing boom in decades

Key Points:

• Northgate Mall in San Rafael, originally opened in 1964, is being demolished to make way for Northgate Town Square, a mixed-use development featuring 1,422 homes, retail space, and green areas, including a new location for Good Earth Natural Foods.
• San Rafael has seen a significant surge in housing development approvals, with an average of 1,403 units approved annually since 2024, up from 188 units per year between 2018 and 2023, driven by updated city plans and state housing mandates.
• The city faces challenges balancing growth with community concerns, as some residents and groups criticize high-rise developments for not fitting the suburban character and express worries over the loss of local amenities like Safeway.
• Marin County’s housing development is uneven, with cities like Belvedere resisting new construction, while others like Tiburon adopt accessory dwelling units; affordable housing remains a critical and contentious issue across the region.
• Developers and city officials acknowledge the difficulties posed by rising construction costs and state regulations but emphasize the urgent need for more housing to address affordability and meet state-mandated goals.